Agricultural production jumps

By Amina Nazarli - AzerNews 

The volume of agricultural production in Azerbaijan has increased by 7.3 percent since the beginning of the year, reaching 2.65 billion manats ($2,514 billion), the state statistics committee reported.

The production of livestock increased by 2.6 percent, while crop production rose by 14 percent.

As of June 24, 362,100 hectares were planted in the country and this figure is 1.2 percent higher than the figure for the same period last year.

Statistics show that 87,000 hectares of the whole sown area are perennial grasses, 61,000 hectares - potato, 77,000 hectares - vegetables, 65,200 hectares - cereals and legumes, 18,800 hectares - cotton, 27,900 hectares - garden plants, 10,200 hectares - sunflower, 4,900 hectares - sugar beets, 1,400 for tobacco and 3,300 hectares - annual grasses.

By July 1, the country harvested 288,700 tons of potato, 382,900 tons of vegetables, 93,100 tons of fruits and berries, 273,400 tons of tea, and 76,500 tons of tobacco, and which are 10.7, 11.8, 2.6, 18.7, and 30.5 percent more than last the previous year, respectively.

In addition, 37,400 tons of garden products were collected for June 2015, according to the committee.

Azerbaijan produced 225,000 tons of meat products, along with 963,700 tons of milk, 779,400 million eggs, and 15,300 tons of wool. If one were to compare this figure with the previous year, the production of meat rose by two percent, milk by 3.7 percent, egg by 1.4 percent, and wool by 2.1 percent.

The country has focused its efforts on developing this sector, declaring 2015 as the Year of Agriculture.

Agriculture is a meaningful component of Azerbaijan's non-oil economy and has significant potential for boosting export revenues for the country and attracting both local and foreign entrepreneurs. This sector is a key source of jobs, as 38 percent of the population is employed in agriculture, which is a priority sector in the context of food security.

As a result of agrarian reforms carried out in Azerbaijan, guarantees were made for the dynamic development of agriculture. Thus, the agricultural sector was greatly changed, new economic and property relations were formulated, and the regulatory framework was improved.

After restoration of state independence, the level of self-sufficiency for meat and dairy products amounted to 30-35 percent in Azerbaijan. Currently, this figure is 92 percent and 76 percent, respectively.

The total volume of production of agricultural goods has increased by 3.4 times in Azerbaijan over the past ten years.